My dear fashionistas, welcome to a new fashion story on the Mr.M blog. There are destinations that you cannot fully experience without the right companions. While for some people it means some loved ones, friends or family, for me it has always been clothes that tell a story, that depict the spirit of a place that I don’t wear, but live. When I arrived in Los Roques, thanks to the hospitality and support of the Ministry of Tourism of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela – MINTUR, I realized that I was in a space where two worlds meet, European sophistication and Caribbean relaxation, tradition and modern life, pastel colors and bright sunshine.
And as I walked the narrow streets of Gran Roque, the main settlement of this archipelago, wearing a Jacquemus linen shirt with a floral print that caught the eyes of curious locals, Jil Sander beige pants that perfectly matched the island’s pink palette, and Loro Piana suede loafers that allowed me to feel every stone under my feet, I knew I had made the right choice. Not only in fashion, but in life.
LOS ROQUES: WHERE COLORS TELL STORIES
Before we go into a deep story about fashion, the Jacquemus brand and the philosophy of clothing as an art of living, let me take you to Los Roques. This archipelago of over 300 islands and reefs, protected as a national park since 1972, is one of the most authentic places in the Caribbean. While other islands have become overrun with luxury resorts and tourist attractions, Los Roques has retained its character and authenticity of untouched nature.
Gran Roque, the capital, looks like it was invented by a painter obsessed with colors. Pastel pink, mint green, sunny yellow, sky blue, each house is a story in itself. Colonial buildings, low and simple, with cracks in the facades that testify to the years and the Caribbean wind, stand side by side like old friends. Cacti grow from every free space, as natural decorations of this architectural paradise.
In that perfect landscape, where tradition wears casual colors, where elegance comes naturally, without any forcing, the Jacquemus outfit made sense. The floral print on the shirt with orange and yellow tones was like a continuation of the architecture, as if the colors from the walls had moved to the fabric. And the beige shade of pants and moccasins? Natural as the sand that covers every road, as the stone from which houses are built.
JACQUEMUS: THE STORY OF THE SUN, PROVENCE AND THE REVOLUTION OF LUXURY SIMPLICITY
Simon Porte Jacquemus was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Born in 1990 in the small town of Mallemort in Provence, he grew up surrounded by lavender fields, stone houses and that special Mediterranean light that makes everything a little more intense, a little more poetic. When he was only 18 years old, he moved to Paris with one dream, to become a fashion designer. But not just any designer. He wanted to convey the feeling of his childhood, the warmth of the south of France, the simplicity of life in Provence, to the fashion industry, which was then obsessed with complexity and theatrics.
At just 19 years old, in 2009, he founded his brand under the name Jacquemus, his mother’s last name, to whom he wanted to pay tribute after her untimely death. And while many young designers start with grandiose collections and expensive fashion shows, Jacquemus started differently. His first collection, “L’Hiver au Soleil” (Winter in the Sun), was a love letter to the past, memories and the warm light that never leaves the Mediterranean.
The next two decades were turbulent but fascinating. Jacquemus broke through the competition by offering something that no other designer did, namely authenticity without calculation, simplicity without boredom, casualness without care. His collections were an ode to nature, architecture, and Mediterranean culture. And when he presented his first solo show in Paris in 2013, the fashion world realized that this was not a passing trend. This is a new fashion chapter.
Today, Jacquemus is one of the most influential brands in contemporary fashion. Simon became the youngest designer ever accepted into the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the prestigious organization that regulates haute couture in France. His shows are not just fashion events, they are spectacles that are organized in the lavender fields of Provence, in the wheat fields under a clear sky, on a pink beach overlooking the sea. It is fashion as an experience, as a story, as poetry.
JACQUEMUS PHILOSOPHY: LESS IS MORE, BUT WITH MORE COLORS
What sets Jacquemus apart from other minimalist brands is its attitude towards color and print. While Jil Sander or The Row are focused on neutral, almost monastic palettes, Jacquemus celebrates the richness of color. But not by any means. Its colors are always inspired by nature such as sunny yellow, orange like the setting sun, violet shade of lavender, sky blue, earthy terracotta.
The shirt I wore at Los Roques is a perfect example of this philosophy. The floral print with orange and green tones on a beige base is not a random choice. It is an abstraction of Mediterranean landscapes, flowers growing wild next to stone roads, the sun breaking through olive branches, the warm wind carrying scents and colors. Each flower on the print has its own form, but together they create a harmony that is not perfect in the geometric sense, but is perfect in the natural sense.
Material? Flax. Of course. Jacquemus approaches natural materials almost religiously. Linen is a fabric as old as civilization itself, and irreplaceable in Mediterranean climates. Breathable, moisture wicking, gets softer with every wash, never looks too formal even when completely wrinkled. For Jacquemus, linen is not just a material, it is a philosophical attitude. It is a renunciation of artificial, synthetic, short life.
OUTFIT
Shirt: Jacquemus
Trousers: Loro Piana
Espadrilles: Loro Piana
A FIT THAT BALANCES BETWEEN CASUALITY AND ELEGANCE
If you look closely at Jacquemus shirts, you will notice something interesting. They are never overly relaxed or overly formal. They are always somewhere in between. The lapels are wide enough to suggest casualness, but not so much that they look pajama-like. The length is perfectly calculated, covers the hips, but allows it to be worn pulled out. The sleeves are roomy enough to allow for movement, but are constructed to have form.
The shirt I wore in the pictures has another detail that is characteristic of Jacquemus, and that is the print itself. But it’s no ordinary print. It’s a floral print that’s subtly broken up with abstract brushstrokes in green and black, creating an extra level of visual depth. When you put your hands in the pockets of your pants, as I am in the photo in front of the pastel wall, the whole silhouette of the body gets a relaxed but perfect line.
And then we come to the buttons. Jacquemus buttons are never ordinary. On this shirt, it’s the buttons in a color that blends with the print: neutral, unobtrusive, but quality. They don’t want to attract attention. They want to stand back and let the print speak for itself. It’s the sign of a designer who knows when to stop, when to say “enough.”
LORO PIANA TROUSERS: A NEUTRAL BASE FOR BRIGHT STORIES
While the Jacquemus shirt was the star of the outfit, the beige linen trousers from the brand Loro Piana were the perfect support. And that is exactly their role, to be the base, to allow the other piece to shine, but never to be overlooked.
Loro Piana’s philosophy, which we have already discussed in one of the previous posts, comes to full expression here. These pants are a true indicator, everything that a good pair of pants should be, namely comfort, functionality, easy matching with other pieces, to be a timeless model for all times. Beige color is neutral, but not boring. In the sunlight of Los Roques, that shade gained warmth depending on the angle of the light.
The fit is classic Loro Piana, sophisticatedly wide but tightly controlled. A high waist that creates a clean line. Long legs with a slight flare at the bottom, just enough to show the moccasins, but not so much that they look short. The pockets are deep and functional. The linen weave is smooth, high quality, flawless perfection.
The combination of a Jacquemus shirt with a bright floral print and Loro Piana beige pants creates a perfect fashion harmony and balance. A shirt attracts the eye, tells a story, expresses an emotion. Pants ground, center, give structure. Together, they create an outfit that is both exciting and elegant and sophisticated.
LORO PIANA: THE ULTIMATE OF MASTER CRAFTSMANSHIP AT YOUR FEET
We come to the part of the text where we talk about the importance of the quality of master footwear craftsmanship. This is a world of footwear that most people don’t know exists, a world where shoes are made like works of art, where materials are chosen with the precision of the finest clothing, where every step you take must be perfectly balanced between comfort and elegance.
Loro Piana is an Italian brand founded in 1924, but their family history in the fabric industry stretches back several centuries. What makes Loro Piana unique is their obsession with quality materials. They control the entire production chain, from selecting the finest wool and cashmere to the final product. When you buy Loro Piana, you’re not just buying shoes. You are buying decades of knowledge, generations of experience and an unwavering commitment to perfection.
The espadrilles I was wearing were made of suede leather, or rather, flipped suede leather that comes from African deer. Why is it important? Because suede leather is one of the finest, softest, and most durable natural materials. It is softer than ordinary leather, but at the same time stronger. Don’t lose shape. It doesn’t shoot. A material that ages beautifully, acquiring a patina that only adds character to the shoe.
The beige color of the moccasins was not accidental. In Los Roques, where every road is covered with fine sand, where you move between stone houses and dusty paths, beige shoes were a practical choice. But at the same time it was an ideal aesthetic choice, a neutral color that blends with the pants, creating an uninterrupted line of the leg, visually lengthening the silhouette.
The construction of the Loro Piana espadrilles is stunning. There are no external seams. Everything is hand-stitched inside, with extreme precision. The soles are made of rubber, but not ordinary rubber, it is a specially developed compound that provides stability, flexibility and durability. The interior is lined with the finest calf leather that adapts to the shape of your foot, creating a customized fit that gets even better with time.
GRAN ROQUE: WHERE FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE BECOME ONE
Looking at my fashion photos, I realized that Gran Roque was the perfect backdrop for this outfit. My favorite photo is in front of a pastel wall with cracks and cacti that just exudes a Mediterranean energy that resonated perfectly with the Jacquemus aesthetic. The floral print shirt blended perfectly with the architecture, somehow it was a natural continuation of it.
The pastel colors of the buildings, faded by the sun and salty air, are stories about time, about lives that have passed, about loves and losses. Jacquemus floral print is a story about similar themes, about transience, about beauty that is not eternal but that is precisely why it is precious, about life that is lived in the moment.
Cacti growing from every corner are not just plants, they are a symbol of survival, adaptation, beauty in harsh conditions. My Loro Piana espadrilles, built to last while remaining stylish, tell a similar story.
In the second photo, next to the colorful fences of Gran Roque, with palm trees and electric poles in the background, we see the meeting of worlds. Local and international. Traditional and modern. Venezuela and Europe. And the outfit I’m wearing is exactly that fusion of French design (Jacquemus) and Italian craftsmanship (Loro Piana), which proved ideal for this incredible Caribbean island.
A TALE OF TWO BRANDS: WHEN LUXURY IS NOT LOGOMANIA
One of the most fascinating things about this outfit is the complete absence of logos. Neither of these two brands, Jacquemus or Loro Piana is at the stage where they rely on recognizable logos. This is the so-called “stealth wealth” or quiet elegance. Don’t wear a brand so people know what you’re wearing. Wear it because you know it’s the best.
This is the opposite of the logomania culture that dominates certain segments of the fashion industry. At Jacquemus and Loro Piano, quality speaks for itself. Materials, cut, workmanship, that’s what stands out. No big logo on the chest or flashy branding.
And that’s exactly what makes this outfit so sophisticated. He does not demand attention. It is simply there and with its hidden elegance sends a message of refinement only to those who can recognize it.
LINEN AS A PHILOSOPHY: WHY NATURAL MATERIALS ARE BECOMING LUXURY
Both the Jacquemus shirt and the Loro Piana trousers are made of linen. It’s not a coincidence. Linen is a material that is becoming increasingly relevant in an age where sustainability and fashion awareness are becoming a priority in the fashion industry.
The production of flax requires much less water than the production of cotton. The flax plant grows naturally without the need for pesticides. Every part of the plant can be used, nothing goes to waste. And at the end of its useful life, flax is completely biodegradable. In a world where the fast fashion industry is polluting the planet and consuming resources unsustainably, flax is the answer.
But flax is not only an ecological choice. It is also a very useful choice. When you wear linen in warm climates, you feel how the fabric breathes, how it absorbs moisture, how it adapts to your body. Each of the folds is not a fault, it is a character. It is a proof that you live and enjoy life in your clothes, that you are not a model, but a man.
In Los Roques, with tropical high temperatures and high humidity, linen is not a luxury, it is a necessity. But a necessity that looks phenomenal.
SIMON PORTE JACQUEMUS: AUTHENTICITY AS THE BEST MARKETING STRATEGY
One of the things that makes the Jacquemus brand so fascinating is the personal story of Simon Porte Jacquemus. He did not hide his origin. He didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. On the contrary, everything he did was authentic.
His Instagram posts look like a personal album, not corporate marketing. His shows are in Provence, his native region, not in typical Parisian locations. His inspiration comes from childhood, from memories, from emotions.
In an age where every fashion brand looks like every other, where everything seems to have passed through the same PR filters, Jacquemus stands out with its personality. When you wear Jacquemus, you wear a piece of Simon, a piece of Provence, a piece of authentic story.
That’s what I felt wearing that floral shirt in Los Roques. I wasn’t just wearing a shirt. I carried the story, the emotion, the vision of a young guy from a small town who dreamed of big things and stayed true to his roots.
STRONG PRINT, NEUTRAL BASE: TIMELESS STYLE FORMULA
If there’s one style tip to remember from this post, let it be this: a strong print requires a neutral base. My Jacquemus shirt with its rich floral print could easily have looked overdone, chaotic and over-the-top. But in combination with beige pants and beige moccasins, she got room to breathe, to stand out, to tell her story.
This is a formula you can apply to any outfit:
If you wear something with a print or in a bright color, keep the rest of the outfit neutral
If you wear neutral colors, you can experiment with textures, materials and construction
Always have one focal point, one piece that draws attention, while the others are there to support
In my case, the focus was the shirt. Everything else was there to support it, to complement it, to create a perfect whole together.
LOS ROQUES AS A METAPHOR: BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY
As I walked the streets of Gran Roque, taking photos in front of the pastel walls and along the colorful fences, I thought about how much this destination resembles the philosophy of the brands I wear.
Los Roques wasn’t trying to be a five-star luxury resort. It didn’t offer spas, fine dining, luxury shopping. Instead, he offered me something more valuable – authenticity. Access to untouched nature. A peace you can’t buy. People who don’t play the roles we imagine in Venezuelan soap operas, but really live their lives.
Likewise, Jacquemus and Loro Piana weren’t trying to impress you with logos or must-have pieces. They offer quality, craftsmanship, timeless design. They may be more expensive than many fast fashion alternatives, but for every dinar you spend, you get a piece that will last for years, that will get better with time, that will remain relevant regardless of changing trends.
THE VESTIBULAR SENSE OF FASHION: HOW CLOTHES AFFECT THE WAY OF MOVEMENT
There’s something we rarely mention when we talk about clothes, and that’s how they affect the way we move, how we stand, how we feel in our own bodies.
When I wore this outfit to Los Roques, I noticed something interesting. The Jacquemus shirt, with its relaxed fit and light material, made me move more casually. The hands naturally looked for the trouser pockets, the shoulders were more relaxed, the step was light.
The Loro Piana trousers, with their high waist and wide legs, gave me a sense of stability. I stood more confidently, with more confidence.
Loro Piana espadrilles, with their perfect foot support, allowed me to walk for hours without getting tired, without feeling every stone under my feet, to be present in every moment of this incredible journey.
That’s the power of good clothes, they change not only how you look, but also how you feel, how you move, how you experience the world around you.
At the end this post, I must once again express my gratitude especially to the Ministry of Tourism of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela – MINTUR that allowed me to experience Los Roques in a way that will remain etched in my memory forever. This destination is not just a photogenic backdrop for pictures, it is a story of resilience, beauty and authenticity.
Jacquemus and Loro Piana gave me the tools to tell that story through clothes. To bring together worlds, cultures and different philosophies. And you, my dear fashion lovers, have given me a reason to share all this. My blog, Mr.M by Marko Tadic, is not just a platform for occasional beautiful pictures from travels and fashion adventures. It is a space where we explore what it means to live with style, which is not the same as modern.
Style is to be timeless. Style is being aware. Style is to be authentic.
Today I tried to convey to you the beauty of elegance and refinement in Los Roques, the heart of the Caribbean exotic beauty of South America, that’s why I prepared this outfit for you with a lot of love, I believe you will like it. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or any message for me, you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social media channels, which you can find on the CONTACT page. See you soon!
With Love from Los Roque,
Mr.M
Photographed in Los Roques on the main island of Gran Roque in the neighborhood of El Gran Roque.
Thanks to the Ministry of Tourism of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
This post is sponsored by the Jacquemus and Loro Piana brand. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.